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Companies prospect for naturally occurring hydrogen in underground rock formations
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Exploration for geologic hydrogen, naturally occurring in iron-rich underground rock, could provide a low-carbon fuel source if extraction proves viable.
Hydrogen is a key candidate for decarbonizing heavy industry and transport, but current production relies on fossil fuels. If underground hydrogen can be extracted at scale, it may offer a cleaner alternative without the high costs of electrolyzers or carbon capture. However, technical and logistical hurdles remain before it can replace conventional methods.
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Naturally occurring hydrogen is being explored in regions like the US Midwest, where iron-rich rock reacts with water to produce the gas.
Companies are testing both passive extraction of existing hydrogen deposits and stimulated production by injecting water or catalysts underground.
Challenges include hydrogen’s tendency to escape through rock and the difficulty of transporting or storing the lightweight gas at scale.
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The search for geologic hydrogen marks a shift in clean fuel strategies. Unlike hydrogen produced via electrolyzers or fossil fuels with carbon capture, naturally occurring hydrogen could bypass energy-intensive production methods. Companies like HyTerra and Koloma are targeting the Midcontinent Rift in the US, where iron-rich rock formations may generate hydrogen through water-rock reactions. Early samples show high concentrations, but the total recoverable volume remains uncertain.
Stimulated geologic hydrogen offers another approach, where companies artificially trigger reactions by injecting water or catalysts into underground rock. Vema Hydrogen and Eden GeoPower are testing this method, aiming to create hydrogen on demand rather than relying on pre-existing deposits. While this could expand potential sites, it introduces new variables, such as the need for precise subsurface engineering and the risk of unintended chemical byproducts.
Even if extraction succeeds, hydrogen’s physical properties pose logistical challenges. Its low molecular weight makes it prone to leakage, and storage requires either high-pressure tanks or cryogenic temperatures. These constraints could limit its use to applications where on-site production is feasible, such as industrial hubs or refueling stations. Without breakthroughs in storage and transport, geologic hydrogen may struggle to compete with established fuels.
The economic viability of geologic hydrogen hinges on two factors: the rate of natural replenishment and the cost of extraction. Passive extraction relies on slow geological processes, while stimulated production may require significant energy input. If either method proves too slow or expensive, the industry could face the same cost barriers that have hindered electrolyzer-based hydrogen. Early-stage funding suggests investor confidence, but large-scale deployment remains speculative.
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